Nowadays, children can be criminals’ targets and be forced into slavery.

Children traffickers force them to take up strenuous work in restaurants, clubs, and other places.

Trafficking often involves exploiting children's parents who are extremely poor and sell their own children in order to pay off debts or get immediate gain.

Ary, 12, works at a restaurant near Toul Kok.

She was born around Prey Veng, in a modest income family.

She came to Phnom Penh to work for 4,000 riels per day.

“I can get 45,000 riels to 100,000 riels per day in sales; I get only 4,000 riels per day from my employer. I have to start work at 5pm until 10pm. Nowadays, I cannot study like my friends,” she says.

“My owner does not force me to work for him, but I know that some children are forced into slavery.”